Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lygon, Frederick
LYGON, FREDERICK. sixth Earl Beauchamp (1830–1891), born 10 Nov. 1830, was third son of Henry, fourth earl Beauchamp, by Susan Caroline, daughter of William, second earl of St. Germans.
The Lygon family was connected with the Beauchamp family through Richard (or Thomas) Lygon, who married Anne, daughter of Richard Beauchamp, second and last baron Beauchamp of Powycke (d. 1496). William Lygon of Madresfield Court, Worcestershire, seventh in descent from Anne, died in 1720, leaving a daughter Margaret, who married as her first husband Reginald Pyndar, and by him was mother of Reginald Pyndar, who assumed the surname of Lygon. He died in 1788, having married Susannah, daughter of William Hanmer, and was father of William Lygon, first Earl Beauchamp (1747–1816). The first earl, born on 25 July 1747, matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 2 May 1764. He represented the county of Worcester in parliament as a follower of Pitt from 1775 until 1806, when he was created Baron Beauchamp of Powycke, Worcestershire. On 1 Dec. 1815 he was made Viscount Elmley and Earl Beauchamp. He died suddenly at his house in St. James's Square, on 21 Oct. 1816; he had married, on 1 Nov. 1780, Catherine, daughter of James Denn, and by her he left William Beauchamp, John Reginald, and Henry Beauchamp, successively second, third, and fourth earls, with other issue.
Frederick Lygon was educated at Eton (1844–7), and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, 15 Dec. 1848; he graduated B.A. 1852, proceeded M.A. 1856, and was created D.C.L. 22 June 1870. From 1852 till 1856 he was fellow of All Souls' College. From March 1857 to April 1863 he represented Tewkesbury in the House of Commons in the tory interest. In March 1859 he was appointed a lord of the admiralty in Lord Derby's brief ministry; he only held office for three months. In October 1863, on his elder brother, Henry, succeeding to the peerage, he was elected M.P. for West Worcestershire, and held the seat until 4 March 1866, when he became sixth Earl Beauchamp, on the death of his brother. In the Disraeli administration of 1874–80, he was lord steward of the household. On 2 March 1874 he became a privy councillor; on 13 May 1876 he was made lord-lieutenant of Worcestershire; from June 1885 until April 1886, and again from August 1886 until July 1887, he was paymaster of the forces. In parliament, both before and after his succession to the peerage, Beauchamp was a frequent speaker (cf. Hansard, Parl. Deb. Index, vols. 1864 et seq.), and was a strenuous supporter of the church of England, advocating high church views. He assisted in founding Keble College, Oxford, was a member of its council, and also helped to establish the Pusey memorial. Beauchamp was a F.S.A. and a member of the Roxburghe Club. He died on 19 Feb. 1891, and was buried at Madresfield, Worcestershire. He married, first, Lady Mary Catherine Stanhope, daughter of Earl Stanhope, and secondly, 24 Sept. 1878, Lady Emily Annora Charlotte Pierrepont, daughter of Earl Manvers. He left issue by both marriages, and his eldest son by his first wife, William, became seventh Earl Beauchamp.
Beauchamp compiled a hymnal for Madresfield Church in 1853, he published a speech delivered in favour of university tests in 1864, and in 1870 he edited the ‘Liber Regalis’ for the Roxburghe Club.
[Gent. Mag. 1816, ii. 381; Henning's Geneal. Chart.; Times, 20 and 21 Feb. 1891; Funeral Sermon by W. C. E. Newbolt; Church Times, 27 Feb. 1891; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1714–86.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.187
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 325 | ii | 7 | Lygon, Frederick, 6th Earl Beauchamp: for liturgy read hymnal |